Taste of Chicago Fest: 2026 SAUCEWITHSPOONS COVERAGE

This past Wednesday July 8th 2026, I was invited by City of Chicago to cover their annual 'Taste Of Chicago' Fest. It was one of those days that reminded me why I moved here.

Every time I go out and cover an event, I feel like I understand Chicago just a teeny bit more. This city has a personality of its own: loud, chaotic, diverse, overcrowded, expensive, inspiring… and also (somehow) all of those things at the same time all at once.

Walking through the festival, I don’t think I went more than a minute without hearing a different language, smelling food from a different part of the world, or seeing people from completely different walks of life all sharing the same space. It’s honestly one of my favorite things about this city. You don’t have to travel the world to experience different cultures… sometimes you just have to walk outside. It also reminded me how seriously Chicago takes its seasons. Nobody wastes summer here, at all. And as someone who dreads the winter, I one hundred precent respect it.

Full parks, beaches, lakefront, packed EVERYTHING. It feels like the entire city collectively understands that these next few months are borrowed time before winter comes back around.

Another thing I’ve started noticing since moving here is this weird paradox around affordability.

Taste of Chicago is completely free to get into. On paper, that makes it feel like an event that’s accessible to everybody. And I genuinely think that’s the intention.

But once you’re inside, reality starts setting in & by the time you grab something to eat and something to drink, you’ve spent what amounts to about an hour’s worth of minimum wage… on one meal.

It’s interesting because the access is free… but participating isn’t always.

Is this a spot on metaphor for living in this city? Having just moved here, i'm not comfortable making that assessment yet, though it has crossed my mind multiple times so far.

That isn’t even a complaint as much as it is an observation. Chicago constantly asks you to spend money just to leave the house. But at the same time… pretty much all of my favorite memories since moving here have come from doing exactly that.

Sometimes staying home saves money & sometimes going outside is worth a whole lot more.

😂 My favorite moment of the day had to be Mayor Johnson coming on stage with the energy of 1,000 suns…

“Chicago… who’s ready for…” …(the band that had literally just walked off stage)"

Then immediately hit the crowd with the classic: “I KNOW THAT’S NOT ALL YOU GOT, CHI!”

Everyone just started laughing. It was one of those moments where it was pretty obvious the people on stage and the people in the crowd were having two completely different experiences. Is this a spot on metaphor for how disconnected the politicians & government are from the people? I'd have to give the same answer.

Overall though, another great day covering one of Chicago’s biggest traditions.

All words/photos: @SAUCEWITHSPOONS